Stock-car



M. ONEAL.

STOCK GAR.

No. 243,957. Patented July 5, 1881.

WITNESSES I 1 R I @wagw mw 7 -l N. PETERS Phlflolithngnph UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL ONEAL, OF CENTRAL STATION, WEST VIRGINIA.

STOCK-CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 243,957, dated July 5, 1881.

Application filed April 19,1881. (Model) T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, MICHAEL ONEAL, of Central Station, in the county of Doddridge and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Stock- Oars; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompa nying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section of one end of my improved stock-car. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the same; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view, showing the arrangement of the flexible screens.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

My invention has relation to cars for transporting cattle, horses, or other stock; and it consists in the combination of a set or series of hinged partitions, arranged transversely in the car, with self-acting springs for lockin g them in a horizontal position under the root of the car when not in use, and hinged angleirons for lockingthem in their vertical position when in use, substantially as hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the annexed drawings, A is the body or rame of the car, which is of the usual construction.

B is a removable trough for containing water or feed, which is divided up into compartments of suitable size, there being one or more compartments for each separate stall.

0 denotes flexible screens, which are made of heavy cotton thick or other suitable material, of a length corresponding to the width of the car, from the roof and sides of which they are suspended by cords or straps D D, one at each upper corner. To the lower corners are affixed straps or bands E E, by means of which the lower part of the screen may be fastened to the sides of the car. One or more of these flexible screens (which, when not in use, are rolled up under the roof of the car) is arranged between and parallel to frames made of wood or metal, one of which is shown at F in Fig. 2, within which is suspended wire netting G. The upper part of each of the frames is made with hooks f,which are hooked into eyes g in the roof of the car, so that the screen-frames may be swung up under the roof, out of the way, in which position they are held by springs 11 affixed to the sides of the car. These springs are constructed like umbrella-springs, with their upper horizontal arm projecting out through an aperture in the side of the car, as shown in Fig. 2,which permits them to yield as the frame is being swung up to allow it to pass, after which they will of themselves spring back under it and serve as a bearing or support. When the screen is down in its vertical position it is locked at its lower end, between hinged angle- ,arms I affixed upon the stanchions or uprights of the car-frame. These locking devices project with their horizontal arms between the horizontal bars or slats of the car-frame into the car on opposite sides and ends of the hinged partition F G, thus looking it firmly in place without the use of bolts or otherlocking devices, and can be operated as well from the outside as from the inside of the car.

In the compartments or stalls formed between the screens F G are straps or bands K, secured a short distance under the roof, to which may be tied bundles of hay or straw for feeding the animals.

The trough B can be easily filled from the outside at stopping or. watering stations, and

is suspended by cords or straps to the side of the car a suitable distance above the floor.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- In a stock-car, the swinging frames F G, hooked to eyes g in the rool'of the car, in combination with the self-acting spring-bearings H, and pivoted rightangled locking-arms I, secured permanently in the sides of the car, substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and specified. I

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MICHAEL ONEAL.

Witnesses OLIVER CAIN, FERGUSON OLEMAN$. 

